The most important vitamin for guinea pigs is vitamin C, this vitamin is also called ascorbic acid. A lack of vitamin C will usually lead to problems. Most animals can produce their own vitamin C, only humans, guinea pigs and monkeys cannot. These depend on vitamin C in the diet.
Novice guinea pig keepers
It often happens in novice guinea pig owners that the guinea pigs suffer from a vitamin C deficiency. In most cases this is caused by a diet that is too one-sided. Many people assume that guinea pigs can also have the food of their rabbits, after all, they are both rodents. However, this is a very bad idea! Rabbits can make the necessary vitamin C themselves, so no extra vitamin C has been added to their food. This can also be the problem with generic, cheap guinea pig food. It is therefore not wise to get cheap guinea pig food from the Action. Only use this food as an extra in addition to the regular chunks! Some good food types are Union caviakorn, Science Selective and Vitakraft.
Symptoms in the absence
When a guinea pig does not receive any vitamin C at all for about two weeks, the first symptoms will become visible. Often, however, a vitamin C deficiency is something that builds up slowly. A guinea pig receives just a little too little of this vitamin every day for months, eventually the deficiency is too high and your guinea pig will become very ill. When you move your guinea pig or when you introduce new friends, he temporarily needs more vitamin C, stress increases the vitamin C requirement! When there is a long-term lack of vitamin C, your guinea pig will lose weight and it will become increasingly difficult to walk. You will clearly see your guinea pig lie on its side more and more to relieve its legs and abdomen. The hair will bulge and the eyes will be sunken. A guinea pig with a vitamin C deficiency will in most cases not be able to get pregnant, reproduction cannot proceed as normal. If your guinea pig was already pregnant, the young will in most cases be born lifeless. Sometimes symptoms include poor growth, gum disease and sudden loosening of teeth. Internal bleeding can also occur in your guinea pig.
Causes of a vitamin C deficiency
Research has shown that it is best to give your guinea pig dosed vitamin C. It is better that he gets a small amount every day than if he gets a 7 day amount every week. In the latter case, the body will not be able to absorb the vitamin C properly.
Deficiencies in most cases arise from poor nutrition. Other causes of a deficiency are a loss of appetite due to illness or problems with the teeth as a result of which too little varied food is eaten. It may also be that your guinea pig needs more vitamin C because it is pregnant or growing, this must be taken into account!
Excess of vitamin C.
Many people assume that too much vitamin C is also harmful. However, this is not the case! Vitamin C is not stored in the body. The amount that comes in too much is also immediately out. It is true that the kidneys have to work harder with a vitamin C surplus, so it is best to just administer about the recommended amount.
Amount of vitamin C per vegetable
A guinea pig needs about 20 milligrams of vitamin C per kilogram of body weight.
100 grams of vegetables | Milligrams of vitamin C. |
---|---|
Endive | 10 |
Apple | 12 |
Cauliflower | 74 |
Green cabbage | 80 |
Cucumber | 10 |
Paprika yellow | 183 |
Bell pepper green | 89 |
Paprika red | 190 |
Tomatoes | 25 |
chicory | 112 |
Carrot | 10 |